Why Rebels Demand Federalism: Is It about Oil Money?
By David Aoloch Bion
The rebels fighting the Govt of South Sudan come from Unity, Upper Nile and Jonglei states. Oil, which brings 100% money for the govt, comes from these states.
The objectives of the rebels from day one, was to remove the Govt that was using the oil money to develop one region, that mission failed. The new move for the rebels is to punish the same Govt by removing oil money from her hands.
Now, it is the National government who is controlling the oil money. She gives fraction to the states where is drilled.
According to the rebels, this money is not used to develop South Sudan. It is being used to develop only three states of Greater Bare el gazal.
In words of my campus mate this week, who come from Upper Nile, Nasir county, in our local discussion he said ‘’ Greater Bare el gazal is resourceless and parasite on us, the Greater Upper Nile ’.
Thus, the rebels are just asking for Federalism, because it will give each state a power over it resources. It will be the state to control the oil money and then she will give a fraction to National Govt in Juba.
Stopping oil from being national resources is not bad for National Govt or any state. There is no state that is resourceless as my campus mate is saying. Every state has its own blessing of natural resources. Greater Upper Nile is blessed with oil that is good for it. Greater Equatoria is blessed with good climate for agriculture. Greater Bare el gazal is blessed with good climate for agriculture too
Greater Upper Nile in the next 20 years will not produce any food because of pollution, where will they get food? They will it get from Equatoria and Bare el gazal. So Greater Upper Nile will develop from oil money and other states will develop from agricultural products money.
Remember, South Sudan left with it oil wealth from Sudan, Is Sudan economy dead? No, Sudan economy is growing every year after oil money gone.
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